GB2498769A

GB2498769A - Fastener with cap

Info

Publication number: GB2498769A
Application number: GB1201381.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John S Cottier
Original assignee: James Hardie Technology Ltd
Current assignee: James Hardie Technology Ltd
Priority date: 2012-01-27
Filing date: 2012-01-27
Publication date: 2013-07-31
Also published as: US9328761B2; US20150037118A1; WO2013110775A1; GB201201381D0

Abstract

A fastener comprises a screw 1 and a capped pin 11. The screw 1 comprises a shank 2 having a first end 3, a second end 4 and a pitched thread 5 along at least a portion of its length, a piercing tip 6 formed at the first end 3 of the shank 2 and a head 7 at the second end 4 of the shank 2. The head 7 comprises a face 8, a first recess 9 for releasably engaging a screwdriver, and a second recess 10 extending into the shank 2 for releasably engaging the capped pin 11. The capped pin 11 comprises a cap 12 having a first face 13, a second face 17, and an edge 18, and a pin comprising a first end attached to the first face 13 of the cap 12, a shank comprising, a first shank portion 14 extending substantially orthogonally from the first face 13 of the cap 12 and a second shank portion 15 extending from the first shank portion 14. The second shank portion 15 is releasably engagable with the second recess 10 in the head 7 of the screw 1.

Description

An improved Fastener

FIELD OF TIlE INVEINTION

The present invention relates to fasteners and in particular to fasteners for use with building products. The invenfion has been developed primarily for use as fastener for exterior building cladding sheets and will be described hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in

the field.

Fasteners such as screws have been used for many years to permanently or temporarily fasten two or materials together. Fastening material together with screws results in the face of the head of the screw being visible. In many instances, this is not desirable from an aesthetic point of view. Hiding screw heads is generally achieved by filling with a wall filler, or similar compound specifically designed to fill over screw heads, allowing the filler to dry and then sanding and coating. The procedure is effective in hiding screw heads, when the filled area and the area surrounding the screw is painted after installation, but this procedure is generally not effective in hiding screw heads fastened into prefinished materials. Post installation location of screw fasteners and removal of screws to unfasten materials is not easily possible if the fastener head has been obscured. or hid.d.en by means of a filler. Removal of screws in such installations cannot be achieved without damage to the installation.

Colour matching of screw heads to surrounding colou.r has also been used. to at least partially hide screw heads in prefinished materials, but for a manufacturer, that means that large stock holdings in a large variety of colours are required to be able to meet consumer demands, which is expensive. Location of screw fasteners is easier for prefinished screws than for filled and overcoated installations, but removal of prefinished fasteners risks damaging the finish and does not allow for location of fastening points or removal of the fasteners It is desirable to provide an improved fastener that is easy to install, can be colour matched to its surroundings to minimize its visibility and may be easily located and removed if required.

OBJECTOF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art; or to provide a useful alternative.

It is an object of the invention in its preferred form to provide an improved fastener that is easy to install, can be colour matched to its surroundings and may be easily located and removed if required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided an improved fastener comprising: a screw comprising a shank having a first end, a second end and a pitched thread along at least a portion of its length, a pieiving tip at the first end of the shank, a head at the second end of the shank, the head comprising a face, a first recess for releasably engaging a screwdriver, and a second recess extending into the shank for releasably engaging a shank portion of a capped pin; and a capped pin comprising: a cap comprising a first five, a second face and an edge, and a pin shank comprising, a first shank portion extending substantially orthogonally from the first face of the cap and a second shank portion extending from the first shank portion, wherein the second shank portion is releasably engagable with a second recess in the head of the screw.

Preferably, the second shank portion comprises at least one protrusion.

Preferably, the at least one protrusion is disposed axially.

Alternatively, the at least one protrusion is disposed circumferentially.

Alternatively, the second shank portion including a bend at a predetermined angle to the first shank portion, for forming a cantilever spring.

Preferably, the second face of said cap is convex.

Preferably, the second face of said cap is surface treated, for forming a decorative coating.

Preferably, the surface treatment is selected from at least one the group comprising etching, abrading, anodizing, galvanizing, irradiating, polishing, and embossing.

Preferably, the surface treatment is a surface coating.

Preferably, the surface coating is a paint.

According to the invention, there is provided a method of using an improved fastener comprising thc steps of: providing at least a first and a second material to be relcasably fastened together and positioning a first material in a user selected position at least partially covering at least a second material; providing a screw comprising a head comprising a face, a first recess for releasably engaging a screwdriver, and a second recess extending into the shank for rcleasably engaging a shank portion of a capped pin; providing a capped pin comprising a cap comprising a first face, a second face and an edge, and a shank comprising, a first shank portion extending substantially orthogonally from the first face of the cap and a second shank portion extending from the first shank portion; releasably engaging a screwdriver with the first recess and driving the screw through the at least two materials to be releasably engaged until the face of the screw is co-planar with the surface of the first material; and placing the capped pin in position by inserting the second portion of the shank of the capped pin into the second recess in the head of the screw and applying pressure to urge the edge of the cap into physical contact with the surface of the first material.

BRIEf DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows 1(a) a cross-sectional side view of an improved fastener, and 1(b) a top view of the improved fastener, according to one aspect of the invention, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of (a) a screw of an improved fastener according to the invention, in preparation for installation; (b) a screw and a capped pin of an improved fastener according to the invention showing a partially completed installation; and (c) a completed installation of an improved fastener according to the invention, Figure 3 is a partial cutaway front view of a wall section showing at least one improved fastener installed according to the invention, Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an improved fastener according to one aspect of the invention, showing axial protrusions on the second shank portion of the capped pin, and Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an improved fastener according to one aspect of the invention, showing circumferential protrusions on the second shank portion of the capped pin.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 01? THE INVENTION Rekning to the drawings, an improved fastener according to one aspect of The invention is shown in Figure 1 in both cross-sectional side view in Figure 1(a) and in top view in Figure 1(b), the improved fastener comprising: a screw I comprising a shank 2 having a first end 3, a second end 4 and a pitched thread 5 along at least a portion of its length, a piercing tip 6 formed at first end3ofshank2,aheadlatthesecondend4ofshank2,theheadcomprisingaface8,aflrst recess 9 for rclcasably engaging a screwdriver, and a second recess 10 and a second recess extending into The shank for releasably engaging a shank portion of a capped pin 1 I. Capped pin 11 comprisingacap l2havingaflnitfkce 13, second face 17,andapinshankcomprisingaflrst shank portion 14 extending substantially orthogonally from first face 13 of cap 12, and a second shank portion 15 extending from the first shank portion, wherein second shank portion 15 is relea.sably engagable with a second recess in the head of the screw 1. Second shank portion 15 extends at a predetermined angle fixm first shank portion 14, forming bond 16, and thereby resulting in the -shank being able to act as a resiliently deformable cantilever spring. In use, second portion 15 of the pin shank is inserted into second recess 10 of screw! and pressure is appliedtosecondfacellofcapl2tourgesecondshankportionlsasfaraspossibleinto second recess 10 without deforming cap 10. Angle 16 of the cantilever spring is deformed and first shank portion 14 and second shank portion 15 form a resiliently and releasably engagable fit into secondrecess 10 of screw!. lfscrew 1 isdriveninto amaterial, suchas anexteriorbuilding cladding sheet, until face 8 is level wiTh the surface of the building material, capped pin 11 can be driven into screw 1 until edge 18 comes into contact with the surface of the building material.

Second surface 17 of capped pin 11 is sufficiently large to completely cover head 8 of screw 1.

The use of the improved fastener to fasten a building material to a building substructure is best shown in Figure 2(a) where, prior to installation all surfaces are optionally prepared by cleaning or similar, then screw 200 is positioned in the normal way with piercing tip 201 positioned on a desired fastening location 202 on building material 203. A screw driver blade 204, either attached to a manual screw driver, or power driven screwdriver device, is positioned so that it releaseably engages at least a portion of first recess 205 in head 206 of screw 200. As rotational energy is applied to screwdriver blade 204, piercing tip 201 penetrates building material 203 at or adjacent the desired fastening location 202 and screw 200 is progressively driven into building sheet 203. As shown in Figure 2), fastening of the building sheet 203 to the building substmcture 207 via screw 200 is complete, with face 208 of screw 200 driven in until level with surface 209 of building material 203. At this stage, the fastening location is easily identified because face 208 of screw 200 is visible and unprotected. The colour of screw 200 contmsts with that of surface 209 of building material 203. Capped pin 210 is shown adjacent face 208 of screw 200, ready tobeinstalled. To installthe capped pin, the secondportion2ll of the shankis inserted into the second recess 215 of the screw. Pressure applied to second surface 216 of capped pin 210 begins to drive second portion 211 of the shank into second recess 215 in screw 200. As the shank of the capped pin is driven into second recess 215, the angle of bend 212 between first portion 213 and second portion 211 of the shank is altered and results in the formation of a cantilever spring. As the shank of capped pin 210 is resiliently deformed during insertion into second recess 215 of capped screw 200, capped pin 210 is held in position because of the resistance fit of the cantilever spring within second recess 215. First and second shank portions 211,213 respectively of capped pin 210, are driven into second recess 215 of screw 200 until edge 214 makes physical contact with surfItce 209 of building material 203. Figure 2(c) shows a completed installation, with capped pin 210 installed and in place. Once installed, the diameter of second surface 216 of capped pin 210 is sufficiently large to completely cover face 208 of screw 200. Edge 214 of capped pin 210 is in close physical contact with surface 208 of building material 203 and acts to minimize contact of environmental agents with screw 200.

Once installed, the capped pin covers face 208 of screw 200 and serves to obscure or hide the fixing locations.

Second surface 216 of capped pin 210 maybe surface treated by one or more surface treatment processes to provide an aethetic decorative finish. The surface ireatment may be one or more of etching, abrading, anodizing; galvmthing; irradiating, polishing, and embossing. In some cases, the surface treatment may include a decorative paint finish that is matched to a paint colour and other features, such as gloss level and texture, of a prefinished building materiaL Figure 3 shows an improved fastener 305 according to the invention in an installed position, where at least one building material 30! is shown fastened to a building substructure 302.

Capped pins have been installed to complete the wall construction at that fastening location. Also shown in Figure 3, are partially completed fastening locations 304 where the screws have been installed but each has not yet had its respective capped pin (unshown) installed. If, for any reason, fasteners need to be removed from a completed wall installation, the capped pins can be removed by levering the cap away from the building material surface. Levering action will again resiliently deform the cantilever spring formed by the first and second portions of the shank of the capped pin and allow the shank to be withdrawn from second recess of the screw. This can be done with substantially no damage to any surface finish on the building material, which is important if the building material has an expensive or high quality surface finish factory applied, which cannot be easily repaired on site.

In one aspect of the invention, as best shown in Figure 4, an improved fastener is shown in cross section in Figure 4(a) where second portion 415 of shank of capped pin 411 has multiple axially oriented protrusions 416 along at least a portion of its length. In top view, as shown in Figure 4(b), the screw head is similar to those shown in previous Figures 1-3, but the second surface 417 of capped pin 411 has been finished with a decorative surface finish. Second surface 417 of capped pin 411 may require some kind of treatment, such as an etching, abrading. irradiating, and the like surface treatment to enable adequate adhesion of an applied decorative finish such as a paint or transfer print. During installation, second portion 415 of the shank of capped pin 411 is inserted into recess 410 of screw 401. Some pressure is applied to second surface 410 of capped pin 417 to urge second shank portion 415 as far as possible without dcforming cap 4!2. Edge 418 of capped pin 411 is brought into contact with the surface of the material into which the screw is fixed and, in an exterior building application, minimizes access of weather elements such as rain to the fastener / material interface.

In one aspect of the invention, as best shown in Figure 5, capped pin 511 is shown in cross-section in Figure 5(a) th multiple spaced apart circumferential protrusions 516 arranged along the length of second shank portion 515. Protrusions are optionally evenly spaced along the length of second shank portion 515. The diameter of the circumferential protrusions arc optionally equal toot slightly larger than the diameter of second recess 510 in screw 501, to ensure a resilient fit of second portion 515 of capped pin 511 into second recess 510 of screw 501. As with other examples presented above, capped pin 511 is releasably engageable with second recess 510 of screw 501 and may be removed by levering capped pin away from its installed position.

Itwillbeappreciatedthattheiledimpmvedfaeneriseasytoinstall,canbecolour matched to its surroundings to niininiize visibility and may be easily located and removed if rcqufred.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms, which are envisioned within the scope of the claims that follow.

Claims

<claim-text>THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: I. An improved fastener comprising: a screw comprising: a shank having a first end, a second end and a pitched thread along at least a portion of its length, a piercing tip at the first end of the shank, a head at the second end of the shank, the head comprising a face, a first recess for relcasably engaging a screwdriver, and a second recess extending into the shank for releasably engaging a shank portion of a capped pin; and a capped pin comprising: a cap comprising a first face, a second face and an edge, and a shank comprising, a first shank portion extending substantially orthogonally from the first face of the cap and a second shank portion extending from the first shank portion, wherein the second shank portion is releasably engagable with a second recess in the head of the screw.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. An improved fastener according to claim 1, the second shank portion comprising at least one protrusion.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. An improved fastener according to claim 2, the at least one protrusion being disposed axially.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. An improved fastener according to claim 2, the at least one protrusion being disposed circumferentially.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. An improved fastener according to claim I, the second shank portion including a bend at a predetermined angle to the first shank portion, for forming a cantilever spring.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. An improved fastener according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second face of said cap is convex.</claim-text> <claim-text>7. An improved fastener according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second face of said cap is surface treated, for forming a decorative coating.</claim-text> <claim-text>8. An improved fastener according to claim 7, wherein the surface treatment is selected from at least one the group comprising etching, abrading, anodizing, galvanizing, irradiating, polishing, and embossing.</claim-text> <claim-text>9. An improved fastener according to claim 8, wherein the surface treatment is a surface coating.</claim-text> <claim-text>10. An improved fastener according to claim 9, wherein the suite coating is a paint.</claim-text> <claim-text>11. A method of using an improved fastener, comprising the steps of: providing at least a first and a second material to be rclcasably fastened together and positioning a first material in a user selected position at least partially covering at least a second material; providing a screw comprising a head comprising a face, a first recess for releasably engaging a screwdriver, and a second recess extending into the shank for releasably engaging a shank portion of a capped pin; providing a capped pin comprising a cap comprising a first face and a second face, and a shank comprising, a first shank portion extending substantially orthogonally from the first face of the cap and a second shank portion extending from the first shank portion releasably engaging a screwdriver with the first recess and driving the screw through the at least two materials to be relcasably engaged until the face of the screw is co-planar with the surface of the first material; placing the capped pin in position by inserting the second portion of the shank of the capped pin into the second recess in the head of the screw and applying pressure to urge the cap into physical contact with the surface of the first material.</claim-text> <claim-text>12. An improved fastener substantially as herein dcscribcd with reference to the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>